Comments on: Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Rodney McDonald

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:53:04 +0000

Hi there.

Back in 2000, it was suggested to me to use WD-40 (water dispersant made from fish oil) to remove dirt and to return the shiny gray plastic look to PC keyboards and cases.

It smells bad but it works.

Rod.

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: weapon x

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:10:17 +0000

very accurate information pleased to be reading it!

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: BillyHW

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:49:44 +0000

I have one of the very first SNESes. I actually managed to snag it from a disreputable dealer prior to the official launch date for a $100 premium. No discolouration.

Sucks to be all of you.

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Luis

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:02:12 +0000

The objective is to keep the console in a environment without oxygen, because it's the oxygen who gives that yellow color.
It's difficult to reach that, because the methods we have to keep that environment.

If we remove the oxygen, then the pressure inside the box will drop. And if we use a candle, then the heat from the candle will raise the pressure.
If the box isn't strong, then this differential pressure between inside and outside is strong enough to do some little fissures witch then bring inside the oxygen.

The only away we have to know if the box is air sealed is with a barometer or a manometer. If the pressure is equal than the outside, then the box isn't sealed and we have oxygen.

And what you want: keep the console inside a box as new without touch them, or keep outside to see and use it.

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Al.H

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:24:41 +0000

You know, when I got my SNES (a PAL model) it stank of old tobacco smoke yet it had no serious yellowing (apart from some light discolouration around the Player 2 port). Anyone know why it has no serious yellowing?

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Celio Motta

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:35:17 +0000

Great article! Thanks.

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Eric

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:16:55 +0000

Great article. Well researched and written. I even love the explanation of the magic eraser since my wife has been wondering how that works for a while now.

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Mr. Rat

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:19:07 +0000

Hey Luis,
Thanks to you I have a dead rat inside my nintendo…

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Luis

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:02:57 +0000

I know another away to prevent the plastic degradation and the yellow:
Put the console in a sealed box with no oxygen.

Choose a box that can be sealed from the air. It's good to be a box resistant to heat, transparent and have a cooler on top to dissipate the heat.
Put the console, a lot of oxygen absorber, and a candle in that box.
Light the candle and close the box. The candle will consume a lot of oxygen before extinguish and the oxygen absorber will remove the remaining.

Don't open that box. Or you will have to do all again.

Another away is to exchange the candle with a rat. The rat will consume the oxygen like the candle, but without emit heat, before he die in that box.

Sorry my bad english.

Comment on Why Super Nintendos Lose Their Color: Plastic Discoloration in Classic Machines by: Sergin

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:30:08 +0000

Great article. Finally, I've read something that makes sense about yellowing in my SNES. I see there's no solution to this, at least permanent. It's like any normal aging process… you can slow it down but not forever.

I'll see aging my SNES just like I do myself. Now I appreciate that yellowing, it's like scars of war

PS: Sorry for any mistakes. My native language is Spanish